My 10 Commandments Of Being A Member At Roadfood!

My number 1 rule:
                 Thou shalt enjoy your food and recall that roadfood can be anywhere( a monastery, fishing pier, a grocery store on the wrong side of the tracks, even a small fast food chain in the midwest or California).

Hmmm, Mosca,
  Perhaps we should review your past-posts again?? 

Best behavior, Mr Mayor. Notice I wrote, "If I'm going to", not "When I". A minor point, but syntax is meaning!

If you break one of your own commandments...what is the penalty?
 
Confessing here or to yourself? Doomed to Roadfood hell of your own making?
 
Does #7 include Rocky Mountain oysters? They are not really oysters...wink wink.
 
 
 

Mosca




Best behavior, Mr Mayor. Notice I wrote, "If I'm going to", not "When I". A minor point, but syntax is meaning!

Don't worry. You don't gotta pay no syntax on Roadfood.
 
Just watch your peas and croutons.

douginvirginia


Russ,

While I mostly agree with your list, I'd like to comment on #6. We are , of course, very fortunate to have the wealth of knowledge this forum presents us, one should not limit themselves to eating at spots mentioned here. 

In some ways this board is a victim of its own success. I certainly use the reviews and postings here to plan some of my eating when taking a trip, but I don't  plan each and every meal. I enjoy the serendipity of seeking out, or stumbling onto, a spot I've never heard of. If we all only ate at the "must do's" , there would be  no new finds - a trend I've noticed over the past few years.

 
I was saying that one should check the site prior to the trip. Not to go only to roadfood destinations. When going into a new city I use it as a guideline first. Roadfood tends to be dedicated to specific types of food like diners, pizza, hot dogs, regional items, and breakfast type stuff alot of times. It doesn't always delve into Fine Itallian, Sushi, Seafood, Steak Houses etc... Plus there are always new spots and places that have not been mentioned. Checking with roadfood first insures that you will have atleast one good meal on the trip....Russ 

  A couple of disjointed thoughts about this thread.

   As my history demonstrates I enjoy the Roadfood Quest(s), but I must admit there are times when I don't spend much time in the search/decision process about where to eat. There are many factors that cause me to assign a lower  (or a Higher) priority to making a decision about stopping at any certain location... It is a factor in the total trip process...but NOT the only factor in many of those epic journeys.
  Time, weather, my disposition or temperament, and/or my passenger(s) mood and wishes, budget, distances (closeby or a side-trip?), road conditions, traffic conditions, competition for seating...and the list goes on.

I am more than satisfied to use the drive-thru at many FF stands if the factors affecting the choice indicate that as the best combination of actions.

So I guess I would be classified as a believer, but only a moderate 'Practioner' of the devotion to strict Roadfood Selection. For example, I have never been to Peter Lugar's Steak Restaurant. I would like to go, but I have a feeling that the 'other factor's' will always prevent me from chosing that place .

I am a firm believer in the concept of what is good for you , WORKS...but it doesn't mean that it is good for me, or anyone else. I do make judgements about trying a place based on the level of my respect for the reference person. I have read some recommendations here from some members that I simply would not go to because I have found that the other person's "tastes" are quite different from mine. These decisions are rare, as I find many more that I agree with....but I have my own thoughts about what is good and what isn't !!

I do agree with one of the 'rules' under discussion. Respect the opinion of others, no matter how dumb they may be !!    The restaurant you are describing may indeed be the best you've ever tried....but it may be number 10 or lower on someone else's list. Proclaiming "Yours" as the best, at the expense of respect for others opinions causes a lot of the negative debates here on this site. I hope we can really make an effort to show respect for others opinions in our future posts.

I totally appreciate Al's post.  I believe all should read it and understand what his point is.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Sundancer7


I totally appreciate Al's post.  I believe all should read it and understand what his point is.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Agreed....thanks mayor al!

My only roadfood rule: if Trudy likes it, it's roadfood. Listening to my husband(Mr Chips) and his friends, has led me to many great experiences with food.

Sundancer7


I totally appreciate Al's post.  I believe all should read it and understand what his point is.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Absolutely. When travelling, sometimes spending the time to find the absolute best Roadfood experience is limited by other considerations, including other priorities on which you wish to spend that time.
 
Nicely put.

I think I've broken most of those Roadfood Commandments.  When I go to Roadfood Hell will there be nothing there other than soggy pizza  and food that looks like the Las Vegas Buffet Cousin Eddie takes Clark to in Vegas vacation? 

Andrea

jmckee

Sundancer7


I totally appreciate Al's post.  I believe all should read it and understand what his point is.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Absolutely. When travelling, sometimes spending the time to find the absolute best Roadfood experience is limited by other considerations, including other priorities on which you wish to spend that time.
 
Nicely put.

In short, common sense.

Mosca


Commandment of being a Roadfood member:

If I'm going to insult someone, or tick them off, I have to do it in such a manner as to not draw too much attention from the moderators, and in such a way that the person being targeted is unsure of or unaware that they are being hit. To do otherwise is crude and blunt and frankly, too easy and no fun.


I can't think of any other rules.

 
Oh, so that insult back on February 23, 2004 was about me, huh, Tom?!? Just kidding...
 
Russ, so many of those "commandments" are spot on, and they actually do make me think, in particular about giving places another chance. I have to settle at a number before I say "We are NEVER going there AGAIN!" Looking back, the worst experiences have been at chains, even smaller ones like Iron Hill Brewery, but I'm actually going to give another LOCATION of it a chance! Sometimes it really is the server and not the overall experience, or even the food that p*sses you off and makes you not want to return.
 
The thing about Jane Stern not meeting or eating a pizza that was ever inedible...oh, I so totally disagree. One bite and I can tell whether I even want to finish that slice. Many, many choices around here for pizza, and not every single place is great.
 
Oh, and I just read Al's post about respecting the opinions of others, and I am the same. I have seen such insults not only directed at me but at "greenhorns" to here that what I do is just either nicely craft a respectful comeback...actually, the way I usually do it when it's toward me or my post is try to find out what their problem is with me personally. I'm pretty sensitive so I only let it bother me a little while. I don't understand ignorance and never will.
 
Either way, nice thread, Russ!
 

Harriet I think sometimes maybe most attacks are more humor and taken out of context. On the other hand some are just blatent attacks. Alot of internet cowards say stuff they would never say in person. Personally I am never offended or pissed off. The Orion Cooker thread is one of the best. #12 might be : Be gentle on first time posters and never judge a member on 1 post...Russ

Mosca


Commandment of being a Roadfood member:

If I'm going to insult someone, or tick them off, I have to do it in such a manner as to not draw too much attention from the moderators, and in such a way that the person being targeted is unsure of or unaware that they are being hit. To do otherwise is crude and blunt and frankly, too easy and no fun.


I can't think of any other rules.

I'll try to do that as a new years resolution.

I am in agreement with Russ 100% except where I don't agree with him!

Like, I think ya gotta eat those hot dogs off the rollers, sometimes ya gotta throw in the towel if ya can't find the place, and I am sorry, I will not, cannot eat lutefisk (see #7).

But I agree 100%!  Great commandments (particularly when my kids ask for fast food now, I can just tell 'em I can't because of a commandment--that should last me a couple of minutes anyway)!

I enjoy Russ's 10 Roadfood Commandments.  He has a good sense of humor.  Red Rover, Red Rover I dare anyone to say he/she has never partaken of those gas station/quick stop  places' roller hot dogs to come over!    Judgment shall be.......

Andrea

AndreaB


  Red Rover, Red Rover I dare anyone to say he/she has never partaken of those gas station/quick stop  places' roller hot dogs to come over!    Judgment shall be.......

Andrea

I'll take that dare. I've enjoyed quite a few roller dogs from gas stations and convenience stores. With ketchup, of course. Lots of ketchup.

Not near as delicious as my home cooked Nathan's fried in bacon grease until they split.

AndreaB


I enjoy Russ's 10 Roadfood Commandments.  He has a good sense of humor.  Red Rover, Red Rover I dare anyone to say he/she has never partaken of those gas station/quick stop  places' roller hot dogs to come over!    Judgment shall be.......

Andrea

I can say honestly I've never had one. If I'm ever THAT hungry at a truck stop or whatever I'll go with some 5-year aged beef jerky and an apple (if they have it)...if not I'll just wait it out until something comes up down the road.

EatingTheRoad

AndreaB


I enjoy Russ's 10 Roadfood Commandments.  He has a good sense of humor.  Red Rover, Red Rover I dare anyone to say he/she has never partaken of those gas station/quick stop  places' roller hot dogs to come over!    Judgment shall be.......

Andrea

I can say honestly I've never had one. If I'm ever THAT hungry at a truck stop or whatever I'll go with some 5-year aged beef jerky and an apple (if they have it)...if not I'll just wait it out until something comes up down the road.

You mean you don't love pizza at these joints??!! 

AndreaB


I enjoy Russ's 10 Roadfood Commandments.  He has a good sense of humor.  Red Rover, Red Rover I dare anyone to say he/she has never partaken of those gas station/quick stop  places' roller hot dogs to come over!    Judgment shall be.......

Andrea

He is such a nice guy we may invite him to become an honorary lunchbuncher!

NYPIzzaNut

AndreaB


I enjoy Russ's 10 Roadfood Commandments.  He has a good sense of humor.  Red Rover, Red Rover I dare anyone to say he/she has never partaken of those gas station/quick stop  places' roller hot dogs to come over!    Judgment shall be.......

Andrea

He is such a nice guy we may invite him to become an honorary lunchbuncher!

If he likes being around the older set!

I believe that the Hot Dogs that don't sell become those meat sticks similar to slim jims that sell at the counter in the self serve dispenser...Russ
 
Also: I am guilty of violating all of my 10 commandments...Russ

Russ Jackson


I believe that the Hot Dogs that don't sell become those meat sticks similar to slim jims that sell at the counter in the self serve dispenser...Russ
 
Also: I am guilty of violating all of my 10 commandments...Russ

None of us are perfect specimens .. we may talk a good game but ....

Three times in my lifetime I have eaten Domino's pizzas .. for example..

I have lived according to those commandments.

Here in the PHX area, Circle K sells a Diamondback Dog. It's a 1/4 # Oscar Meyer dog and if it's not under or overcooked, it ain't bad for a Buck!

I've just now seen this list for the first time and love it and love the concept.  I travel a fair amount and my only rule is I never eat anywhere I can eat at home so that avoids most all the chains ( except White Castle).
I like the idea as a new years resolution as someone already mentioned, but the notion of commandments is a good one. As for breaking the rules, what good is temptation if you don't give in to it?